In the first 6 months of 2026, 4,937 surveys have been submitted by 446 REEF volunteer surveyors! Not only are these efforts adding to the world’s most comprehensive marine fish biodiversity database, but they also support important conservation and research objectives.

So far this year, we’ve received several exciting new data requests from researchers using REEF data for important studies, including:

  • Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to evaluate population trends of Red Brotula in the Salish Sea.
  • University of Florida to conduct an analysis of the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the reefs and fishes of southeast Gulf of Mexico and the Dry Tortugas.
  • Friends of Saltwater State Park to evaluate population trends of fishes and invertebrates at four sites in Saltwater State Park, WA.
  • Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium to evaluate population trends of Puget Sound King Crab in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) and East Carolina University to use as part of a FLRACEP (Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program) project entitled "Cooperative Study of Spawning Aggregations".


Your surveys truly make a difference! Explore publications featuring REEF data at www.REEF.org/db/publications.

Red Brotula, photo by Rhoda Green